“The Cherry Blossoms Bloomed Again”
What They Say:
Renge, Natsumi, Komari, and former big-city-girl Hotaru live a quiet life in the Japanese countryside, but things get a lot more exciting when newcomer Akane Shinoda moves into the house next door to the Koshigaya family!
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Today is a special day. Natsumi’s brother is graduating! Hey, he has a name, you know!? It’s Suguru and don’t you forget it! Everyone is dressed up for the occasion. Even the classroom looks fancy. The ceremony begins and Suguru is given his certificate of graduation. Is he finally going to speak!? Nope. Darn, I really thought there was a chance. Anyway, the other students sing the school song to send him off. Hilariously, since no one else can play the piano, Suguru ends up playing it. Yup, he played his own graduation song. His mom can be seen crying in the background. After school, everyone walks home together. Renge takes this chance to thank Suguru for everything he’s done. The others do the same. It’s going to be weird not having him around school anymore. They’re all growing up so fast! Also, I was really hoping he’d say something during this scene but he didn’t. I guess we’re never going to hear his voice, dangit.
Renge runs into Shiori and they make plans to play together later. Elsewhere, Konomi meets up with Hikage and Akane. They head over to Candy Store’s place to buy some snacks for Glasses-kun to congratulate him on graduating. Again, his name is Suguru! At least call him by his name on his graduation day. The store is closed though. It’s Candy Store’s day off. That doesn’t stop the group from entering anyway, haha. Poor Candy Store. On a side note, Hikage and Akane seem to get along rather well. Komari, Natsumi, and Hotaru stop by Renge’s house to play. But she already made plans to play with Shiori! That’s okay, they’ll tag along. The group goes over to Shiori’s place to pick her up. We get a glimpse of her mom with her big baby belly. She’s due any day now! Natsumi wants some cardboard and the group heads over to visit Candy Store. They meet Konomi’s gang and they all decide to hang out with each other. Candy Store is also roped into coming. She just wanted to enjoy her day off!
The girls have fun sliding down a grassy hill using the cardboard. Even Candy Store gets in on the action! Ah, the nostalgia. I actually used to do that myself when I was just a wee lad. Fun times. Konomi is simply watching everyone have fun. Hikage thinks she’s plotting something. I can’t blame her. But that’s not the case. She’s just thinking about how time has flown by. Everyone is getting older. Hikage can’t believe she’s getting sentimental right now. Who isn’t getting sentimental at this point!? It’s getting late and the group decides to walk Shiori home. When they get there, her mother is nowhere to be seen. That can’t be good. They find her on the ground in the back room. She’s going into labor! Quick, someone call a taxi! Where the heck is her husband!?!? The girls do manage to call a cab and Shiori’s mom is rushed to the hospital. I hope she’s going to be okay.
And then out of nowhere, we get a time skip. But what about Shiori’s mom and the baby!?!? That will be answered in a little bit. It’s spring again which means a new school semester. Renge, now in second grade, walks to school with her big sister. They run into Komari, Natsumi, and Hotaru on the way. It’s weird not seeing Suguru with them but he’s starting at his new school today. They are getting a new classmate though. Care to guess who it is? Shiori! The group goes to pick her up and is greeted by her mom and Shiori’s new baby sister, Kasumi. D’awww. I’m glad everything turned out okay. Renge promises to be a reliable big sister! Eventually, Shiori emerges and the group heads to school. Renge promises to teach Shiori all the secrets to dodgeball today. On the other hand, Natsumi admits that she forgot to do her homework, haha. And she said that in front of the teacher. I admire her stupidity bravery. It’s a beautiful, sunny day today! What does the future have in store for them? We’ll just have to use our imagination.
In Summary:
And that’s a wrap folks! This season of Non Non Biyori is officially over. I’m going to miss this show, a lot. I thought this show was called Non Non Biyori NONSTOP though. Why is it ending!? Darn you, misleading title! But seriously, I loved this show. Non Non Biyori plus Laid-Back Camp really mellowed me out this season. I could always count on them to put a smile on my face and provide me with maximum comfiness. I needed that type of relaxation in my life, especially during these crazy times. I can’t believe this is the end. I honestly don’t think we’ll get a fourth season of Non Non Biyori. And you know what? That’s okay. This was a nice way to end the series. It feels like it’s been so long, but also no time at all. That’s a great way to sum up this anime. I only wish that we could have heard Suguru’s voice! He stayed silent throughout each of the three seasons. I respect that. Still, I wish he would have said something in this last episode. I really thought he would at least say “thank you” in that one scene where everyone was paying their respects. I guess we mere mortals just weren’t meant to hear his angelic voice. Farewell, Non Non Biyori! I’m going to miss you. Nyanpasu.~
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll, HiDive, VRV
